Literal translation
to have/make eyes like a chestnut husk, like a goby
Meaning
to gawk wide-eyed, with a blank stare
Explanation
To open wide, astonished eyes, to wear a blank, foolish gaze. The bogo and the gòbi are two small, very common Mediterranean fish, caught by every kid fishing off the docks, known for their big round eyes and, in the gòbi's case, an oversized head. Being fish of little worth, rarely kept for the table, they provide the ready made image of a dazed, slightly dim look. This gòbi has nothing to do with the one in the expression avoir les mains gòbi, the resemblance stops at the word itself.